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Takeaways from Texas' primaries: Trump's power, Latino vote, redistricting and more

Trump endorsed Paxton shortly before the runoff, and the article examines the endorsement’s influence on the Republican race.

Takeaways from Texas' primaries: Trump's power, Latino vote, redistricting and more
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Host credibilityYahoo News76/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Republished from CBS News. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.

CBS News85/100 HIGH

194 stories · 84–85 · updated Oct 6, 2026

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Yahoo Newsvia CBS News
May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’ Republican Senate primary runoff, setting up a general-election contest with Democrat James Talarico. The article also examines how Trump’s endorsement, Latino voters and redistricting shaped Texas primary races.

Community verdict

37 VOTES
How does this story look for
Donald Trump R · President of the United States
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People in this story

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Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement of Paxton is presented as a factor in the primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate who defeated Cornyn in the primary runoff

Paxton's version of this story ↗
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican senator who lost the Texas primary runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate and Paxton’s expected general-election opponent

Todd Blanche
R · Attorney General

Acting attorney general who met with Senate Republicans

Texas representative who ran against Talarico in the Democratic Senate primary

Texas representative who defeated Al Green in the 18th District primary

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who supported Cornyn and discussed the race

Democratic candidate who lost the runoff in Texas’ 35th District

Julie Johnson
D · TX-32

Texas representative who lost the Democratic runoff in the 33rd District

Sylvester Turner
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former representative whose death is included in Menefee’s succession history

Chip Roy
R · TX-21

Texas representative who lost the Republican runoff for state attorney general

Marc A. Veasey
D · TX-33

Texas representative who decided not to seek reelection in the 33rd District

Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

North Carolina senator cited as another Republican who has broken with the administration

Al Green
D · TX-9

Texas representative who lost the Democratic primary in the 18th District

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator cited as another Republican who has broken with the administration

Sheila Jackson Lee
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former representative mentioned in the history of the 18th District seat

Democratic candidate who won the runoff in Texas’ 35th District

Republican candidate set to face Johnny Garcia in November

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator who endorsed before the runoff and congratulated Paxton

Greg Casar
D · TX-35

Texas representative who chose to run for a different seat

Colin Z. Allred
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Democratic candidate who defeated Julie Johnson in the 33rd District runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Angela Paxton, Ken Paxton’s then-wife, mentioned in accounts of his campaign and divorce; Bo French, Republican primary winner for Texas railroad commissioner; Dan Patrick, Texas lieutenant governor who endorsed before the runoff and congratulated Paxton; George W. Bush, Former president mentioned as part of Cornyn’s political history; Greg Abbott, Texas governor who endorsed before the runoff and congratulated Paxton; Jim Wright, Incumbent Texas railroad commissioner defeated in the Republican runoff; Mayes Middleton, Texas state representative who defeated Chip Roy in the attorney general primary runoff; Miriam Adelson, Casino magnate identified as a funder of the PAC that supported Jim Wright; Rick Perry, Former Texas governor who campaigned for Cornyn

Part of a bigger story

15 OUTLETS
Trump-Backed Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas Senate Runoff

Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff after Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, giving Paxton the party’s Senate nomination. Left-leaning outlets stress that Paxton’s nomination could hurt Republicans in the general election. Center outlets mostly frame the result as evidence of Trump’s influence in GOP primaries, while also discussing November’s stakes. Right-leaning outlets present the win as a demonstration of Trump’s influence.

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